Propeller



C. H. HAVILL Nov. 27, 1934.

PROPELLER Filed Jan. 28, 1952v 2 sheets-sheet 1 AAAAA 5,

Nov. 27, 1934. I 3.l H. HAVILL l 1,982,152

` PROPELLER y l Filed Jan. 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o n f' n SO 32 32 l l 2 2.9

.gunman mi??? www., x i

\ Mm imm-un Patented Nov. 27, 1934 rnorsnuia 'clinton n. navlil, south orange, N. J., assigner,

. by-mesne assignments, to Eclipse vAviation Corporation, East Ora/nge,l N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 28,1932, serial N0. 589,473 'I 19 claims." (ci. 17e- 162) This invention relates to propellers and more particularly to propellers of the type having a plurality of blades,rthe angularity or pitch oif which may be varied during operation.

It has heretofore been proposed to construct variable pitch propellers in such a manner that the pitch of the blades thereof is automatically;

varied during operation of the propeller, such construction presenting numerous advantages and desirable features not present in the well-known fixed pitch wood type propeller or even the propellers of the character wherein the .pitch or angularity of the blades may be adjusted while the propeller is not in operation Abutincapable of adjustment when the propeller is rotating.4 Numerous of the variable pitch propellersy of the automatic type referred to, have utilized one or i another ofthe various forces present during operation of thepropeller as a source of power to operate Vthe pitch-changing mechanism,` such as,`

for example, the centrifugal force developed by the blades during operation, the centrifugal forcel developed in auxiliary mechanism, the thrust of the blades, etc. In such installations, it has been sought to vary the-pitch of the propeller blades in order to secure maximum propeller 4efliciency during all conditions'encountered-during flight, such as take-oft', climbing, cruising, etc., while at the same time endeavoring'to maintain tlie rate of revolutions of the engine driving the propeller substantially constant at a value such as to secure maximum engine eiiiciency during such variable flight conditions. A

' When propellers `oi' the above mentioned type have heretofore been operatedduringfsuchfcon'- ditions as mentioned above, yit has been determined thatv inmany instances the' pitch ofthe blades is often decreased to s uch'at value asto` eral views. It is to be expressly understood, howeffect a substantial vincrease'in the speed of ro-vtation of the engine to such an'extent as tofcause the eflicen'cy ofthe latter to` be lmaterially rey j duced. .Such operation presents many difficulties',

among which maybe mentioned a loss in eiliciencyl of `the engine,- andv the. danger thatA the engine speed1 might reach an 'excessively high valuesuch: assto' effect a possible breaking or fracture -of certain of; the operative parts thereof.

i variable pitch propeller embodyingva novel arrangement for preventing the speed ofthe engine;

ples of the present invention is illustrated there- It is accordingly one ofthe vobjects'of the pres'-y ent invention toprovide a novel variable pitch propeller ,construction so'constituted as to avoid the above mentioned difculties.. i; vAnotherv object ofthe inventionis to provide a from-reaching a'dangerously. high value. f

gines.

Another object is to provide in an automatic variable pitch propeller, a novel mechanism automatically operable during rotation of the propeller for positively arrestingl a further decrease in the pitch of the blades, once the pitch has attained a predetermined Still another object is to provide a propeller having a plurality of blades, the pitch of which is automatically varied during operation in accordance with the thrust of the blades in combination with a novel device effective during operation of the propeller to positively limit the pitch attainable by the blades.

A further object is toprovidein a variablepitch propeller of the automatic type, a novel construction including a centrifugally-governed stop mechanism for limiting the-pitch of the blades.

Still another object -is to provide in a propeller 0f the type embodying a hub movable axially of the driving shaft for changing the pitch of the blades, a novel device carried by the hub and responsive to centrifugal forceforpositively arresting relative movement ofthe hub with respect to the shaft in order to positively limit the reduction in the pitch of the blades during operation of thepropeller.

A still further object is to provide a novel variable "pitch propeller construction embodying relatively few parts, so arranged as to obtain a light-weight and compactstructure capable ofv ready adaptation to existing types of aircraft en- The above and other objects and novel featuresY of' the invention willappear more fully hereinafter vfrom the following detailed descript'ion when'taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the sevever,- that the" drawings are for 4purposes of ,illusi tration onlyand are not designed as a denition Fig.` 3 is apartal axial sectional view of the;

propellerf` and Fig. 4"i'sa detail partly in section of the centrifugally-governed stop mechanism. 1 v

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3,

a :variable pitch-propeller embodying the princiin as being eonsututed by o rotatable engine shaft or extension thereof 5, and a hub 6 d rivably connected thereto but relatively movable longitudinally thereof in response to the thrust exerted by the blades, the hub being provided with a plurality of radially-extending sockets 'l adapted to rotatably receive the inner or root ends of propeller blades 8, there being also provided suitable means for rotating thejblades 8in their respective sockets to vary the pitch of said blades during the aforesaid thrust-responsive movement of the hub relative to the shaft, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

For effecting a drivable connection `between the hub 6 and the shaft 5, a driving member or block 9 is suitably splined to the shaft, Figs. 1 and 3, and is preferably rigidly maintained thereon by many suitable means, such as, for example, split frontl andvrear cones 10 and 11 respectively, a nut 12 threadedly received by the outer end of shaft 5 and inter-locked with the front cone 10 being provided for maintaining these parts in proper operative relation with respect to the shaft. After assembly of\ the parts heretofore mentioned, the nut v12 is preferably locked to an outwardly extending portion 13 of the driving block 9 by any suitable means such as pin 14. The

hub 5 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture or opening 15, Fig. 3, which is adapted to receive the driving block 9, and av plurality of rows of ball bearings 16 are interposed between the driving block and hub in order to permit re1- ative longitudinal movement between these two members in a substantially frictionless manner.

Means are provided for rotatably mounting the inner or root ends of the blades 8 within the sockets 7, and preferably such lmeans are constituted in such a manner as to permit employment of the type of propeller blades now in common use. As shown, such means include a longitudinal split sleeve 17, the two parts thereof being firmly secured around the root ends of the blades 4by means of a collar 18 and outer ring 19 threadedly received by a portion of the sleeve projecting from the socket 7, it being pointed out that the collar 18 is firmly secured to the sleeve and blade root. The exterior surface of the sleeve is preferably so formed as to provide an annular shoulder 20 adapted to form an inner seat for an annular row of ball thrust bearings 21, the outer seat for said bearings being carried by Va thrust,

' 18, in order to decrease-the resistance to rotation of each blade in its respective socket.

Means are provided for interconnecting the rotatable shaft and each respective blade in such a manner as to effect a rotation of the blades in their respective sockets to vary the pitch thereof during longitudinal or axial movement of the hub with respect to the shaft, and preferably such means'are secured to the shaft rearwardly of the propeller hub. vIn the form of the invention illustrated, such means are constituted by a lever or link mechanism, Fig. 2. one end of which is operativelyrconnected with the collar 18, while the other end secured to a lateral extension or arm 25 formed integrally with a plate 26 carried bytheshaft4anddisposedrearwardlyofthe hub 6. More particularly, the above link mechanism comprises a stud 27 secured to the collar 18 and extending laterally of the propeller blade and through a suitable aperture 28 formed in the hub socket 7, and a bolt 29 threadedly received by the arm 25, the bolt and arm being pivotally connected, as by' means of bolts 30 and 31.

to the bifurcated end portions of a link 32, see

Fig. 2. From this construction, it will be appreciated that since one end of the link'mechanisms y is' rigimy connected to che snm 5, the said meenanisms will effect rotation of each respective blade about its longitudinal axis in order to varyv secured in any suitable manner to thep'ortion 13 of the driving block 9. It is pointed out that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pitch of the blades is a' maximum,

the pitch being gradually reduced` during forward movement of lthe hub relative to the shaft' in response to the thrust of the blades, the above mentioned resilient members 33, however, serving to yieldably oppose such movement and to arrest the hub in such a position relative to the shaft that the pitch of the blades assumed will be substantially proportional to the'thrust thereof and such as to yield a substantially maximum propeller eiciency for the conditions of thrust stituted as to be centrifugally governed. AsA

shown, such mechanism comprises` a plurality o f "stop members 35 which.may be disposed on either side of the axis of shaft 5, each of said members being pivotally mountedupon a pin 36 carried by a bracket 3'1 positioned on the hub socket '1. .Each of the stop members 35 extends through an aperture 38 provided in the plate 34 and is preferably resiliently maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1 as by means of Va spring 39. One side of veach stop member 35 is providedwith suitable teeth 40 so constituted as to engage corresponding teeth 41 formed on. a member 42 carried by the plate 34, the construction being such that when the members 35 move about their pivotal mountings in one direction, the teeth 40 and 41 will engage and prevent further movement of the hub with respect to the shaft in a direction to further reducey the pitch of the blades. In order that the members `35 at the predeterminedA speedv of rotation of the propeller at which it is desired to arrest a further reduction in the pitch of the blades, the

may be responsive to centrifugal force developed v outer ends. of saidA members are provided with in order to permit accurate adjustment ofthe location of the weights 43 and thus vaccurately predetermine the speed at which the membersv 35 will move outwardly due to centrifugal'force to effect an engagement'between the same members and the stop 42. In order to substantially neutralize or com-4 pensate the propeller from .the effects oftor-` sion on the blades, the net effect of which is to o constantly tend to decrease. the. pitch of the blades while the propeller is operating or, as. .viewed in Fig. 2, tends to turn or twist the blade 8 in a clockwise direction to effect a forward movement of the hub and consequent reduction in pitch of the blade, the collars 18'associated with the root ends of each blade are counter- Eweighted or enlarged at diametrically opposed sides as indicated at v45. The effect of these counterweights,l as will be more particularlypointed out hereinafter, is to'substantiallyoppose or offset the net torsion on each respective blade while the propeller is rotating( During operation, considering the shaft 5 to be rotating in -a clockwise direction, as viewed from 5 the rear, the hub 6 and blades 8 rotatably carried thereby will be moved axially of the shaft andl relative thereto in response to the degree of ,thrustv exerted by the blades, the link mechanisms. referred to above being' thereupon effective to rotate the blades about their longitudinal axes to vary the pitch. The springs 33 interposed between the plate 34 rigidly carried by the shaft, and the hub, will be effective during the above described'thrust-responsive movement of the hub to yieldably resist such movement and arrestthe forward travel of the hub in such a position vas to yield a materially increased propeller eilicienoy for 'the thrust exerted by theblades under the` given conditions. When, however, during opero ation of the propeller, the pitch has been reduced to such a. value as to substantially lessen the lad on the engine, the speed of the latter will materially increase and consequently effect an increase in the speed of the propeller. As soon asa speedl 5 of rotation of the propeller corresponding Vto the, setting4 of weights 43 has been attained, vthe centrifugally-governed stop members will move outwardly in response to centrifugal-force to eff. fect an engagement between teeth40 and teeth- 0 41 positioned on-the stationary stop 4 2."` When these teeth arein engagemenmit will beread-l '1 ily appreciated that any furthenforvlard move-; ment of the hub with respect to the shaft 5' crease in the pitch of the bladesis prevented. g It,l

will thus be observed that even though the .power .v input of the engine be increased, the pitch-change.,v ing operation, in so far as, reduction of pitch is' concernedyis positively arrestedand ,will lnot be 0 resumed until either the speed of rotation lofthe propeller is decreased to such an extent as to perotlie thrust of the propeller is hreducedrto permit.: the springs 33 to cause a partial returnA ofthe ,hubx 5 with respect to the lshaft to efleet` an inoreasejin.

the pitch of thefblades. f r

Referring more particularlyto Figo'2;asrhere-.IL tofore 'pointed out, during operation, torsion :zon-Y the blades will tendl to vreduce the pitch thereof,."

' and as'viewed in this figure tendftonrotate the blade 10 in a. clockwiser directionv.th,us plac-a ing links 32 in compression andmovingftheshubfr.

. certain'. instances it may, beldefsirable not to wholly erned stop'mechanisxn serves v.to ypositively limit la" further decrease of .the pitchof Htheblade's beyond I I a. predetermined minimum in lasiniple-anfd eilieient manner, andthe use of such mechanism `in .to the. appended .claimsl for; a. dennition `ofythe limitsof;fthe inventiony 'f l What lis claimed is.:

. tend toturn the lattenin acouiitercldckwise di; .rection,' thus "-counteracting the abovf'e` re'feri.edv to torsion. ,It is to be pointedoutrhowever, that in counteract the 'torsion Vof 'the blades, l in i which event`the links 32 due to a amount of' t'or.` sion, would always bein' compression-'during op'r eration. a 1

There'isuthus provided'bythe presentlinvention Ya n ovel variable pitch propeller of the., type wherein automatic relativeakialmvemem of` the f.

hub thereof. with. respect tothe propeller shaft is employedfor varying the -pitch of. thefblades and embodying a novel mechanismforpositively lim- 4iting such yrelative movement of the hub in'one direction. Y 'I'he provision f the, centrifugallygov-.

sures that the speed of rotationof the .engine drivying the propeller will notonlyvfnotfatta'inma' dan.-

gerously high value butmoreover not .even increaseto such an extent asf tofmaterially reduce the operating emciency ofthe engines. While there has been shown and described only one embodiment of the inventiomit is to be understood that the same is not limitedl thereto but maybe embodiedin various mechanicalforms.

-ios

For example, vwhile the -eentrifugally-governed stop mechanism has `been showny asbeing coni stituted l as lincluding suitable teeth for engage- `preciated `that other means y may be 1.prov,lded for effecting a positive ,engagement ,l-,betweenv these madeinthe relative sizes, shapes and, relatlvelof .'cationsand component parts of the `invention and 'that certain partsmay bey utilized without; Aothe's Kif desired. without .departing from the yspirit `ofl the; invention, aswelll understood vlay-those skiuedin the' art. f Referencewultnereforebe had '.blades rotatably mountedthereinf.. afrotatableg bepstively arrested and that any1further-de-fashaftimeans.for drivablyyconnectingjsaidfhub .blades -'for moving fthe "huh,V axiallyffof'said shaft, means operablefduring `'such movement, i150.; change :the pitch Lof.: saidbladespancl"y centr'lfugally--re-f f` :sponsive means' for. positively arresting. movement fof. theg'hub axiallyofthe..fshaftin oney direction: 135 zv j ;2; .,fAfpropeller.comprising a; `plurality off-blades,

mit the teeth 40 and 41 to become disengagedA org; y

.-nectlngfsaidf hub and shaftysadahub .being fmOVry 1 'able with l.respect .to fsaidshaft iinz-responseytozthe Y .ofv 'said-1.bladesgvzmeans `v`including -avlink 14g ".15 mechanism interconnectedmbetween said:shaft as rotatable shaftpahubfme'ans IOLdrIYabIy-.cOn-

andfbladesffor 'rotating' thetlatter, about@,theillon automatically varying the pitch of the latter, said means including pivoted members interconnected between said 'revolving means and said blades, and centrifugally operable means associated with said propeller independently of saidmembers and operable at a predetermined speed of rotation of said rst named means for rendering said automatically operable means ineffective to vary the pitch of the blades.

4. In a propeller'having a plurality of blades, a hub rotatably mounting said blades, means responsive to the thrust of said blades for decreasing the pitch thereof. resilient means for increasing the pitch, land means pivotally mounted o n said hub and automatically effective at a predetermined speed of 'rotation of the propeller for positively limiting axial movement of the hub with f respectto the shaft, saidlastnamedmeansbeing responsive to the speed of rotation of said rotatable shaft.

6.\In,a propeller having-a rotatable shaft, a hub drivably connected with said shaft, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in said hub, said hub being. relatively movable with respect to said shaft in response to the thrust of the blades for varying the vpitch of the latter, a stop member operatively connected with said shaft,

vand a' pivot'ed member carried by saidhub and operable to engage said stop member at a predetermined speed of rotation of the shaft in'order l to arrest relative movement between the hub and shaft in one direction at said predetermined speed of rotation. f

7.. In a propeller of the type having a plurality of blades, the pitch of which is automatically `varied in accordance with the thrust thereof, the

predetermined speed of rotation of the propeller.

8. In a variable pitch propeller of the type embodying a plurality of blades and a shaft driv'ably connected therewith, the combination with said. propeller. of a` pitch-limiting device for positively determining the lower pitch limit of said blades.

said means including a stop'operativelv connected tively movable with respectto said shaft tovary` thepitch of saidbladeaaplatecarriedbysaid shaftforwardlyofsaidhubandspacedtherefrom, a plurality of resilient members interposed between said hub and said plate. a stop carried by saidplateandapivotedme'mbercarriedby said hub and operable in response to centrifugal force at apredeterminedspeedofrotationoftheshaft to engage vsaid stop.

'.10. In apropellerhavingarotatable shaft, a hub drivablyeonnectedwithsaldshsft. saidhub being movableaxiallyofsaidsbaft,aplurality of propeller blades carried by said hub, connections-interposed between said blades and shaft for rotatingsaid blades to vary the pitch thereof during movement of said hub relative to said shaft, a plate carried by said shaft, a plurality of resilient members interposed between Asaid. hub and plate for controlling the axial movement of the hub relative to the shaft. a stop carried by said plate, a centrifugally-'responsive member carried bysaid hub and resiliently maintained out of engagement with respect to said stop, said centrifugally-responsive member beingv operable at a predetermined speed of rotation of the shaft to positively engage said stop to arrest further relative movement between said hub and shaft.

l1. A variable pitch propeller comprising a rotatable shaft, a plurality` of blades drivably conneccted to said shaft and adapted for rotation about their longitudinal axes. means associated with said blades for causing rotation thereof about their longitudinal axes to change the pitch inresponsetothethnistofthebladeaandmeans adjustable in response to centrifugal force and operable during movement of the -pitchchanging means in one direction for positively arresting further movement of said means in the, same direction in order to limit the reduction in pitch ofthe blades.

- 12. A variable pitch propeller comprising a rotatable shaft, a hub drivably connected to said shaft, a plurality of blades rotatably carried by said hub, said hub being axially movable of said shaft, means responsive to the axial movement of said hun for chansins the pitch or the blades, and means for arresting movement Aof the hub lin one direction, said means including a member carried by said shaft andI a pivoted stop member carried by said hub for positively en- Bging said first member.

13.'I n combination with a rotatable shaft, a hub axially movable with respect to said shaft, said hub having a plurality of radially extending sockets, a propeller blade rotatably mounted in each socket, each of said blades cooperating with the hub to move the latter axially with respect to the shaft'in accordance withthe thrust ofthe blades, means -yieldably such axial movement, ,means interconnecting said shaft and blades for rotating the latter in the hub sockets to vary the pitch during such axial movement of the hub, means responsive to centrifugal force for substantially overcoming the torsion 4of the blades, and other means actuated by centrifugal force and responsive at a predeterminedspeedofrotatlonofsaidshaftforarresting further movement of the hub with respect to the shaft in one direction.

14. A propeller having a rotatable shaft. a plurality of blades, a hub drlvably connecting said shaft and blades, said hub being movable forwardly of said in with the thrustandtorsionofthe estoreduce the pitch of the latter, a plurality of rilient mein-A bers yieldably opposing forward movement of the hub, .a centrifugal!! operable means for partial- 14g lyneutralisimtheedectofwrsionontheblades, and separate means operable in accordance with centrifugal force for pitively arresting forward movement of the hub at a predetermined speed of rotation of -said shaft. y

15. A propeller hub comprisingv la driving member-adaptedtobedrivablyconnectedtoa yrotatable shaft, a hub surrounding said member,

--means foi .drivably connecting said hub and for relative longitudinal movement, 4a e plurality of radially extending sockets provided in said hub for rotatably receiving propeller blades, resilient means interposed between said hub and said driving member for normally main-l taining said hub in one position of its longitudinal movement, means interconnecting said blades and driving member for changing the pitch of said blades during relative movement between the hub and the driving member, and a.

plurality of stop members, pivotally mounted on said hub and resiliently maintained in one position of adjustment.

16. A propeller hub comprising a driving memy ber, a hub member rotatable with said driving member and longitudinally moveable with respect thereto, said hub member being provided with a plurality of radially extending sockets, a sleeve rotatably mounted in each socket and adapted to receive a propeller blade, means .for

rality of blades, means for automatically varying the pitch of said blades during operation of the propeller, and means including a self-adjusting mechanism directly responsive to centrifugal force and automatically operable for preventing further movement of said pitch varying means after a predetermined speed of rotation has been reached.

18. In a variable pitch propeller having a plurality of blades, means responsive to a condition of operation of the propeller for automatically varying the pitch of said blades, and means operable in accordance with another condition of operation of the propeller for preventing further movement of said pitch varying means after a predetermined speed of rotation has been reached.

19. Ina variable pitch propeller having a plurality of blades, means responsive to a condition of operation of the propeller for automatically varying the pitch of said blades, and means including a self-adjusting mechanism directly responsive to centrifugal force and automatically operable for preventing further movement of said pitch varyingmeans after a predetermined speed of rotation has been reached.

CLINTON H. HAVILL. 

